Cooler and humidifier



Jul 3 1924. 1,500,978

S. W. WOMACK COOLER AND HUMIDIFIER Filed Oct. 12, I922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 33m HIE-.- E

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s. w. WOMACK COOLER AND HUMIDIFIER Filed Oct. 12, 1 922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gwvewtoz fiWWwmwi at tmeuo Patented July 8, 19.24.

MNETED diATES Mam orrice- SAMUEL WILEY WOMACK, OF QUANAH, TEXAS.

COOLER, AND HUMIDIFIER.

Application filed October 12, 1922. Serial No. 594,086.

a skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in coolers and humidifiers of the type employing a curtain and means for saturating it with liquid which is evaporated by contact with the air, such a device being shown in my U. S. Patent No. 1,129,772, of February 23, 1915.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an'improved form of curtain consisting of a plurality of closely related narrow strips of fabric orother appropriate absorbent material, said strips being movable by means provided for that purpose into different spaced relations sons to allow more or less air-to pass through the curtain.

In the preferred form of construction the curtain is supported by an upright frame and a further object is to provide a liquid supply cylinder for the curtain which constitutes a top bar forthe aforesaid frame.

The lower end of the curtain extends into a troughfor'collecting any liquid which may notbe evaporated and a still further object is to detachably connect the curtain and trough in a simple manner. When the curtain and trough are in place within the frame, said trough is pulled downwardly until the curtain is properly stretched, a further object being to provide novel means for holding the trough against upward movement after the stretching operation.

With the foregoing in view the invention resides in the novel subject matter hereinafter described and claimed, the description being supplemented by the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation partly in section, showing an air humidifier and cooler constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figs. 2 to 8 are sectional views, as indicated bythe lines 22, 3-3, 4-4, 5-5, 66,77 and 88 of Fig. 1.

In the drawing above briefly described, we have shown a suitable frame which includes spaced standards 1 connected near their lower ends by a horizontal bar- 2 and provided with suitable feet 3 to hold them in upright position. A horizontalcylinder connects the upper ends of the standards 1 and substitutes an upper end bar for the frame.- This cylinder is provided with'a liquid inlet which is preferably in the form of a funnel 5 and at its lower side is provided with spaced discharge nipples 6 which are connected with scallops 7 on the upperend of a curtain 8 of fabric or other absorbent material. The nipples .6 are preferably of the same type as those shown in my preceding patent, above referred to, ,and. are attached to thecurtain insubstantially the same way, sothat the liquid may readily seep from the cylinder 4 onto the curtain and may be controlled at will. As these details constitute no'part of the present invention, theyare not illustrated except in a general way. To hold the upper end of the curtain 8 stretched horizontally, appropriate ties 9 are secured thereto to be fastened around the standards 1, asshown in Fig. 1. v V

The lower end ofthe curtain 8 isprovided with a hem 10 receiving a stifiening wire 11 and said endis received in a trough 12. This trough is provided with upstanding hooks 13 which hook over the wire 11 to connect the trough and curtain,and ifdesired the'hem 10 may be notched as at 1 1 to receive thehooks. This forms a simple.

connection between the trough and curtain, permitting the latter to bereadily removed for laundering.

In the preferred form of constructiom; the ends of the trough 12 are received between parallel vertical plates 15 which are secured to opposite sides of the standards 1, theseplates being notched to provide vertically spaced stops 16 for engagement with movable stops 17 which are preferably formed of strips of metal, as shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8. These metal strips contact with the upper edges of the trough 12 and hold this trough down to retain the curtain 8 in a stretched condition.

Any moisture dripping from the curtain will be caught in the trough] 12 and the latter is provided with an appropriate overflow pipe 18 which discharges into a suitable receptacle 19 which may well rest re- 22' which is secured to one e ofthe strips 20,- as indicated at 23. The

ends ofthe rod 22 pass through appropriate guides 24 carried by the standards 1 and I have shown set screws 25 threaded through said guides for holding the rod in adjusted position. ing the screws 25 and sliding the rod 22 in one direction or the other, the intermediate portions of the strips 20 which are connected to said rod, will be twisted .toa greater or less extent. Thus, the spaces between the strips 20 are varied to control the amount of air permitted to pass therethrough. w i

*By'employing the features of construction herein shown and described I have provided a greatly improved device which will be highly efficient and in every way desirable, andsince excellent results have been obtained from the details disclosed, they are preferably followed. However, within the scope of th invention as claimed, numerousminor. changes'may be made. "I claim: I

1. A- humidifying device comprising a frame, a plurality; of strips of absorbent material mounted'within said frame in close relation, means connected with said strips for moving the sameto a desired spaced relation, and means for moistening said strips. i Y

2. A humidifying device comprising a 1 frame, a plurality of strips of absorbent material mounted within said frame in close relat1on, means connected with said strips It will be seen that by loosencurtain in a stretched condition.

I have hereunto for twisting the strips to position them in a predetermined spaced relation, and means for moistenmg said strips.

7 3. A humidifying device comprising a of each strip, said rod being movable transversely of the strips to twist the strips and position them in a desired spaced relation,-means for releasably holding said rod in an adjusted position, and means for mo istening said strips;

et. A humidifier comprising a vertical frame, a sheet of absorbent material mounted in said frame and split into a plurality of strips, a rod transverse to said'strips and connected to one edge of each strip and movable to position the strips in a predetermined spaced relation, and means on the frame for releasably holding said rod against movement' 7 i 5. A humidifier comprising a frame, a curtain of absorbent material suspended therein, means for moistening said curtain, a trough in which the lower end of said curtain is'secured, vertically spaced stops carried by'the frame at the ends ofsaid trough, and movable stops engageable with said spaced stops and saidtrough to hold the latter down and retain the curtain'in astretched condition.

'6. A humidifier comprising a frame, a

curtain of absorbent material suspended" and receiving the ends of the trough therebetween; and stops engageable with said plates at different vertically spaced points the to hold'said trough down and retain In testimony whereof affixed my signature.

SAMUEL IL WOMACKQ 

